A panel discussion will be held next week at Brock University to discuss racism that exists in the labour movement and how unions can and have supported Black Lives Matter.

The Centre for Labour Studies and the Brock Social Justice Research Institute are hosting “I Can’t Work if I Can’t Breathe,” Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Thistle 240.

The discussion will be moderated by Assistant Professor Simon Black and will include panelists: Yusra Khogali, Black Lives Matter Toronto; Idil Abdillahi, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Ryerson University; Azuhura Msofe, student activist, Brock Labour Studies; and Mark Brown, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

Black said he hopes the event will continue the conversation about racism that exists within the labour movement and the role unions play in the struggle against anti-Black racism in policing and the criminal justice system and society more broadly.

“Black workers face racism on the job and in the community,” he said. “Our event hopes to further the conversation between trade unionists, labour studies students and scholars, and anti-racism activists about how we build a labour movement and society free from racial oppression and inequality.”

The Feb. 28 event is open to everyone in the Brock community and there’s no cost to attend.